We have resisted the trend among major law firms to require immediate specialization by new associates. Instead, first-year associates at Sullivan participate in a rotation program – exposing our associates to a broad range of disciplines, specialty areas and training. First-year associates spend 2 to 3 months in each of our major Departments – Corporate, Litigation, Real Estate and Tax. This allows our first-year associates the opportunity to gain exposure to our different practice areas within these Departments, and work with associates and partners throughout our firm. The goal of the rotation program is to enrich and expose our associates to different areas of legal discipline and clients, developing them into well-rounded and highly-skilled lawyers.
The program is closely monitored and supervised by a partner and the head of our talent management team. This ensures that each first-year associate is receiving the appropriate mentoring and training required for each discipline, as well as the necessary tools and feedback they need to be successful for each rotation and beyond. At the end of the rotation program, first-year associates work with their supervisors to select the discipline in which they would like to concentrate.
Upon arrival at Sullivan, first-year associates spend one to two weeks in our comprehensive First Year Academy – an intensive training experience designed to help first-years quickly develop the practical skills required for success from one’s first year throughout one’s entire career. From the nuts and bolts of how to review a commercial lease to knowing how to structure a closing to leveraging Sullivan's litigation support technology, first-years master the basics quickly and emerge poised for success. Upon completion of First Year Academy, first-years are ready not only to take on assignments, but also to participate in department meetings, in substantive and skills training classes and in external continuing legal education programming.
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